LASD News

On Friday, October 5, 2018, a total of 81 polished recruits lined up on the grinder of the Eugene W. Biscailuz Regional Training Center in East Los Angeles, in what would be their final platoon formation as academy classmates. After 22 weeks of rigorous academy training, the recruits pressed through an equally intense and meticulous formal class inspection by law enforcement executives just before the ceremony.

Sheriff Jim McDonnell presided over the graduation ceremonies, and delivered encouraging remarks to the graduates and their guests. Sheriff McDonnell told the recruits, “The public demands that you stand on higher moral ground, the expectations have never been higher. The badge on your chest today represents thousands that came before you.”

In a special segment of the ceremony, Jonathan Paul Anda, was named as the class Honor Recruit. This award is earned by the recruit who achieves the highest numerical average based upon leadership qualities, academics, marksmanship, and physical performance throughout the training period. James M. Becerra Jr. and Alberto Lara Jr., were named the Academic Recruits for earning the highest academic scores.

Each class of recruits processed through the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Biscailuz Center Training Academy brings together a collection of unique aspects, qualities and experiences. Academy Class 431 claims a vastly international collection of backgrounds, reflective of the vast array of cultures found within Los Angeles County. Of the 81 graduating recruits, seven were born outside the United States in the countries of Armenia; Bosnia; Herzegovina; El Salvador; Haiti; Mexico; South Korea; Vietnam, recruits lived abroad in the countries of 14; and 43 recruits speak a language other than English, including Arabic, Armenian, Korean, Spanish, and Vietnamese.

In addition to the social enrichment and mindfulness these graduates bring to enhance our agency, they also carry a substantial source of education with them, with 31 holding a bachelor’s degree or higher in Accounting, Business Administration, Biology, Broadcast Journalism, Business Management, Communications, Criminal Justice, Criminology, Cybersecurity, English, , Ethics, Finance, Forensic Psychology, Health Science, Human Services, Kinesiology and Nutrition Science, Management, Political Science, Psychology, Sociology, Sociology with Criminology Options, Public Policy, Public Relations, Sociology, Sociology of Law and Society, Spanish, Sports Medicine,

We proudly recognize the 14 recruits who served in the military branches of the United States Army National Guard, United States United States Marine Corps, and the United States Navy.

We give a special thanks to the 25 recruits who carry on a proud family tradition of serving in law enforcement with our agency, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, as well as the Los Angeles Police Department, Santa Monica Police Department, California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, San Bernardino Sheriff’s Department and Los Angeles County District Attorney.